Treatment of Symptomatic Carotid Webs: A Single-Center Review.

BACKGROUND: Carotid webs are abnormal thin shelf-like or flap-like tissue in the carotid bulb (proximal internal carotid artery). Rarely are carotid webs detected prior to symptoms since routine carotid artery surveillance is not performed in younger individuals without traditional risk factors for carotid disease. The cause and natural history remain unknown. In general, they are not common but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient who presents with ischemic neurologic symptoms. The web can create a flow disturbance, potentiating local thrombus formation, which can embolize producing resulting in cerebral ischemia. Current treatment is to reduce thrombus formation (antithrombotics and/or anticoagulation) or to alter the flow disturbance caused by the web (surgical removal or stent). METHODS: We retrospectively identified all patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke to our Comprehensive Stroke Center that were diagnosed with carotid web from January 2020 to December 2023. Patient demographics, presentation, hospital course including treatment and complications were collected and reported. RESULTS: Fifteen patients presented with carotid web and stroke from 2020 to 2023 and 13 underwent carotid artery stenting or endarterectomy with no periprocedural complications. Most (40%) carotid webs were not primarily identified by the initial radiology interpretation. CONCLUSIONS: We discuss our experience of carotid web and its management as well as review of the current literature.

Comparison of anticoagulation vs mechanical thrombectomy for the treatment of iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the comparative effects of treatment with contemporary mechanical thrombectomy (MT) or anticoagulation (AC) on Villalta scores and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) incidence through 12 months in iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT). METHODS: Patients with DVT in the Acute Venous Thrombosis: Thrombus Removal with Adjunctive Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis (ATTRACT) randomized trial and the ClotTriever Outcomes (CLOUT) registry were included in this analysis. Both studies evaluated the effects of thrombus removal on the incidence of PTS. Patients with bilateral DVT, isolated femoral-popliteal DVT, symptom duration of >4 weeks, or incomplete case data for matching covariates were excluded. Propensity scores were used to match patients 1:1 who received AC (from ATTRACT) with those treated with mechanical thrombectomy (from CLOUT) using nearest neighbor matching on nine baseline covariates, including age, body mass index, leg treated, provoked DVT, prior venous thromboembolism, race, sex, Villalta score, and symptom duration. Clinical outcomes, including Villalta score and PTS, were assessed. Logistic regression was used to estimate the likelihood of developing PTS at 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 164 pairs were matched, with no significant differences in baseline characteristics after matching. There were fewer patients with any PTS at 6 months (19% vs 46%; P < .001) and 12 months (17% vs 38%; P < .001) in the MT treatment group. Modeling revealed that, after adjusting for baseline Villalta scores, patients treated with AC had significantly higher odds of developing any PTS (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-6.2; P = .002) or moderate to severe PTS (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-8.4; P = .027) at 12 months compared with those treated with MT. Mean Villalta scores were lower through 12 months among those receiving MT vs AC (3.3 vs 6.3 at 30 days, 2.5 vs 5.5 at 6 months, and 2.6 vs 4.9 at 12 months; P < .001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: MT treatment of iliofemoral DVT was associated with significantly lower Villalta scores and a lower incidence of PTS through 12 months compared with treatment using AC. Results from currently enrolling clinical trials will further clarify the role of these therapies in the prevention of PTS after an acute DVT event.

A Comprehensive Review of Risk Factors and Thrombophilia Evaluation in Venous Thromboembolism.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which encompasses deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There are many factors, both acquired and inherited, known to increase the risk of VTE. Most of these result in increased risk via several common mechanisms including circulatory stasis, endothelial damage, or increased hypercoagulability. Overall, a risk factor can be identified in the majority of patients with VTE; however, not all risk factors carry the same predictive value. It is important for clinicians to understand the potency of each individual risk factor when managing patients who have a VTE or are at risk of developing VTE. With this, many providers consider performing a thrombophilia evaluation to further define a patient's risk. However, guidance on who to test and when to test is controversial and not always clear. This comprehensive review attempts to address these aspects/concerns by providing an overview of the multifaceted risk factors associated with VTE as well as examining the role of performing a thrombophilia evaluation, including the indications and timing of performing such an evaluation.

Outcomes of Endovascular Treatment for Critical Limb Threatening Ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Critical limb threatening ischemia (CLTI), particularly in patients with ischemic ulceration has been associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Typically, endovascular therapy has been first-line therapy for our patients, but this strategy has come into question based upon the Best Endovascular versus Best Surgical Therapy in Patients with Critical Limb Threatening Ischemia (BEST-CLI) trial data. METHODS AND RESULTS: For comparative purposes, we evaluated outcomes from 150 CLTI patients with ischemic ulceration treated with endovascular-first therapy. The mean age was 72 years in this predominate male, Caucasian, ambulatory group. The major co-morbidities were smoking history in 49% and diabetes mellitus in 67%.` Anatomic scoring, using Society for Vascular Surgery criteria, revealed only 35.6% had favorable anatomy (Global Limb Anatomical Staging System stage of 0,1) for long-term patency compared to 64.4% of limbs with unfavorable anatomy for long-term patency (Global Limb Anatomical Staging System stage 2,3). Stents were used in 47% of cases. Reintervention occurred in 36% over 24 months follow-up. At 12 and 24 months, the Kaplan-Meier projections for survival was 0.80 (0.73, 0.87) and 0.69 (0.59, 0.79); amputation was 0.69 (0.61, 0.77) and 0.59 (0.46, 0.71); amputation-free survival (AFS) was 0.56 (0.48, 0.65) and 0.38 (0.27, 0.50), respectively. Amputation was more common in those with reinterventions (P = 0.033). Mortality was predicted with ankle brachial index ≤0.40 or ≥1.30 (P = 0.0019) and the presence of infection (P = 0.0047). AFS was predicted by the presence of any infection (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite technically successful endovascular treatment, patients who present with CLTI maintain a high-risk for limb loss and mortality. Amputation prevention must vigilantly address infection risk. These data correlate with outcomes from BEST-CLI trial enhancing applicability to patient-centered care.

Mechanical Thrombectomy vs. Pharmacomechanical Catheter Directed Thrombolysis for the Treatment of Iliofemoral Deep Vein Thrombosis: A Propensity Score Matched Exploratory Analysis of 12 Month Clinical Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To compare thrombus removal and residual venous symptoms and signs of disease following interventional treatment of iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) and pharmacomechanical catheter directed thrombolysis (PCDT). METHODS: Retrospective cohort analysis of propensity score matched subgroups from the multicentre prospective MT ClotTriever Outcomes registry and the PCDT arm of the randomised Acute Venous Thrombosis: Thrombus Removal with Adjunctive Catheter Directed Thrombolysis trial. Patients with bilateral DVT, symptom duration greater than four weeks, isolated femoral-popliteal disease, or incomplete case data were excluded. Patients with iliofemoral DVT were propensity score matched (1:1) on 10 baseline covariables, including race, sex, age, body mass index, leg treated, prior thromboembolism, Marder score, symptom duration, provoked deep vein thrombosis status, and Villalta score. Reduction in post-procedure thrombus burden (i.e., Marder scores), assessment of venous symptoms and signs (i.e., Villalta scores) at 12 months, and healthcare resource utilisation were compared between subgroups. RESULTS: Propensity score matching resulted in 130 patient pairs with no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the MT and PCDT groups. MT was associated with a greater reduction in Marder scores (91.0% vs. 67.7%, p < .001), and a greater proportion of patients at 12 months with no post-thrombotic syndrome (83.1% vs. 63.6%, p = .007) compared with matched patients receiving PCDT. No differences in rates of adjunctive stenting or venoplasty were identified (p = .27). Higher rates of single session treatment were seen with MT (97.7% vs. 26.9%, p < .001), which also showed shorter mean post-procedure hospital stays (1.81 vs. 3.46 overnights, p < .001), and less post-procedure intensive care unit utilisation (2.3% vs. 52.8%, p < .001). CONCLUSION: Compared with PCDT, MT was associated with greater peri-procedural thrombus reduction, more efficient post-procedure care, and improved symptoms and signs of iliofemoral vein disease at 12 months.

Measuring hand movement for suturing skill assessment: A simulation-based study.

BACKGROUND: To maximize patient safety, surgical skills education is increasingly adopting simulation-based curricula for formative skills assessment and training. However, many standardized assessment tools rely on human raters for performance assessment, which is resource-intensive and subjective. Simulators that provide automated and objective metrics from sensor data can address this limitation. We present an instrumented bench suturing simulator, patterned after the clock face radial suturing model from the Fundamentals of Vascular Surgery, for automated and objective assessment of open suturing skills. METHODS: For this study, 97 participants (35 attending surgeons, 32 residents, and 30 novices) were recruited at national vascular conferences. Automated hand motion metrics, especially focusing on rotational motion analysis, were developed from the inertial measurement unit attached to participants' hands, and the proposed suite of metrics was used to differentiate between the skill levels of the 3 groups. RESULTS: Attendings' and residents' performances were found to be significantly different from novices for all metrics. Moreover, most of our novel metrics could successfully distinguish between finer skill differences between attending and resident groups. In contrast, traditional operative skill metrics, such as time and path length, were unable to distinguish attendings from residents. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of rotational motion analysis in assessing suturing skills. The suite of inertial measurement unit-based hand motion metrics introduced in this study allows for the incorporation of hand movement data for suturing skill assessment.

Comparison of Complications and Cost for Transfemoral Versus Transcarotid Stenting of Carotid Artery Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Options for endovascular treatment of carotid artery disease have been developed to compliment with carotid endarterectomy, transfemoral carotid artery stenting (TFCAS) and a hybrid approach with transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR). We sought to capture endpoints outside of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and death involved with each procedure at our institution as well as evaluate cost. METHODS: Carotid stent procedures performed from 2014 to 2020 at our institution underwent comparative analysis based upon access site and type of stent procedure performed, TFCAS versus TCAR. Procedural details and outcomes were captured prospectively and included in the National Cardiovascular Data Peripheral Vascular Intervention Registry (NCDR-PVI). Further retrospective review was performed to evaluate endpoints beyond stroke, MI, and death. Total in-hospital cost, including administrative, capital and utilities (fixed cost), and labor and supplies (variable cost) were also evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-seven patients were reviewed. Seventy-seven were treated with TFCAS and 60 with TCAR. The mean age was 74 years, predominantly male (68%) and Caucasian (90%). Patients undergoing TFCAS were more likely to be symptomatic compared to those receiving TCAR (81.8% vs. 50.0%, P = <0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in event rates, including mortality, recurrent cerebrovascular accident / transient ischemic attack, or bleeding. Complications not captured in the NCDR-PVI database were more frequent in the TCAR group (21.7% vs. 5.2%, P = 0.004) and included pneumothorax (n = 2), neck hematoma (n = 8), and common carotid artery stenosis or injury (n = 3). Rates of complications in the TFCAS group (n = 4) were lower and limited to groin hematoma (n = 2), central retinal artery occlusion causing vision loss and a case of postoperative dysphagia. Geographic miss of initial stent placement was identified in 15.0% of TCAR patients and 2.6% (P = 0.008) of TFCAS patients. Restenosis rates on duplex ultrasound were similar between the two groups (14.6% of patients) and were not associated with symptoms. The mean follow-up interval was similar for both groups of 31.8 months for TCAR and 30.7 months for TFCAS (P = 0.797). There was a statistically significant difference in total cost with TCAR being more expensive ($22,315 vs. $11,001) driven by direct costs that included devices, imaging, and extended length of stay in the TCAR group (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between stroke free survival (91.1% vs. 88.6%, P = 0.69) and mortality (78.1% vs. 85.2%, P = 0.677) at 3 years follow-up between TCAR and TFCAS, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both TFCAS and TCAR provide similar 3-year stroke and mortality risk/benefit and are distinctly different procedures. Both should be evaluated independently with analysis of variables beyond stroke, death, and MI. TFCAS is more cost-effective than TCAR in this single institution study.

Six-Month Deep Vein Thrombosis Outcomes by Chronicity: Analysis of the Real-World ClotTriever Outcomes Registry.

PURPOSE: To analyze the first 250 patients from the prospective, multicenter, industry-sponsored ClotTriever Outcomes (CLOUT) registry, assessing the safety and effectiveness of mechanical thrombectomy for acute, subacute, and chronic deep vein thrombosis (DVT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Real-world patients with lower extremity DVT were treated with the ClotTriever System (Inari Medical, Irvine, California). Adjuvant venoplasty, stent placement, or both were performed at the physician's discretion. Thrombus chronicity was determined by visual inspection of removed thrombus, categorizing patients into acute, subacute, and chronic subgroups. Serious adverse events (SAEs) were assessed through 30 days. Clinical and quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes are reported through 6 months. RESULTS: Thrombus chronicity was designated for 244 of the 250 patients (acute, 32.8%; subacute, 34.8%; chronic, 32.4%) encompassing 254 treated limbs. Complete or near-complete (≥75%) thrombus removal was achieved in 90.8%, 81.9%, and 83.8% of the limbs with acute, subacute, and chronic thrombus, respectively. No fibrinolytics were administered, and 243 (99.6%) procedures were single sessions. One (0.4%) patient in the subacute group experienced a device-related SAE, a fatal pulmonary embolism. On comparing baseline and 6-month data, improvements were demonstrated in median Villalta scores (acute, from 10 to 1; subacute, from 9 to 1; chronic, from 10 to 3; for all, P < .0001) and mean EuroQol group 5-dimension (EQ-5D) self-report questionnaire scores (acute, 0.58 to 0.89; subacute, 0.65 to 0.87; chronic, 0.58 to 0.88; for all, P < .0001). There were no significant differences in outcomes across the subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Mechanical thrombectomy using the ClotTriever System with adjunctive venoplasty and stent placement is safe and similarly effective for acute, subacute, and chronic DVT.

Interim outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy for deep vein thrombosis from the All-Comer CLOUT Registry.

OBJECTIVES: The multicenter, prospective, single arm CLOUT registry assesses the safety and effectiveness of the ClotTriever System (Inari Medical, Irvine, CA) for the treatment of acute and nonacute lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in all-comer patients. Reported here are the outcomes of the first 250 patients. METHODS: All-comer patients with lower extremity DVT were enrolled, including those with bilateral DVT, those with previously failed DVT treatment, and regardless of symptom duration. The primary effectiveness end point is complete or near-complete (≥75%) thrombus removal determined by independent core laboratory-adjudicated Marder scores. Safety outcomes include serious adverse events through 30 days and clinical outcomes include post-thrombotic syndrome severity, symptoms, pain, and quality of life through 6 months. RESULTS: The median age was 62 years and 40% of patients had contraindications to thrombolytics. A range of thrombus chronicity (33% acute, 35% subacute, 32% chronic) was observed. No patients received thrombolytics and 99.6% were treated in a single session. The median thrombectomy time was 28 minutes. The primary effectiveness end point was achieved in 86% of limbs. Through 30 days, one device-related serious adverse event occurred. At 6 months, 24% of patients had post-thrombotic syndrome. Significant and sustained improvements were observed in all clinical outcomes, including the Revised Venous Clinical Severity Score, the numeric pain rating scale, and the EuroQol Group 5-Dimension Self-Report Questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: The 6-month outcomes from the all-comer CLOUT registry with a range of thrombus chronicities demonstrate favorable effectiveness, safety, and sustained clinical improvements.

Current Outcomes of Blunt Vertebral Artery Injuries.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus on the treatment of blunt vertebral artery injuries, and studies are limited to small case series. We assessed the natural history and current management of these injuries. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of a prospectively collected registry at a level I trauma center over a 5-year period. Additional information was gathered from patient charts and imaging review from electronic medical records. We analyzed demographics, mechanism of injury, Glasgow Coma Score, mortality, length of stay, associated injuries, Denver grading scale, neurological findings, level and laterality of injury, delay in diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up imaging. RESULTS: There were 13,080 trauma admissions during this time period yielding 141 patients with blunt vertebral artery injuries from 2013 to 2018 (1.1% incidence). Mean injury severity score (ISS) was 22 with a 30-day mortality of 14 (9.9%). An ISS of greater than 15 is associated with polytrauma and increased mortality. There were 112 (79.4%) associated cervical fractures. C6 and C7 were both equally the most common locations. There was one symptomatic injury manifesting as a cerebellar ischemic infarct. The degree of arterial injury was classified by the Denver grading scale. There were 61 (43.3%) instances of Denver grade I injuries, followed by grade IV at 36 (25.5%), grade II at 34 (24.1%), grade III at 8 (5.7%), and grade V at 1 (0.7%). The level of injury was recorded as follows: V2 = 67 (47.5%), V3 = 56 (39.7%), V1 = 48 (34%), V4 = 14 (9.9%). Medical therapy included aspirin in 93 patients (66%), 31 patients (22%) received systemic anticoagulation with heparin drip, and 2 patients (1%) were administered therapeutic Lovenox. A total of 15 patients (11%) received no medical treatment. There was one intervention in our series. Our only grade V injury was coil embolized. A total of 118 patients (84%) had follow-up imaging. Seventy-eight patients (96%) with grade I and grade II injuries did not worsen, and complete radiographic resolution was found in 50 patients (62%). Grade IV injuries persisted in 22 patients (75.9%). Median time to resolution for grade I and grade II injuries was 7 and 8 days, respectively. Most follow-up scans for grade I and II injuries occurred within 50 days. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior circulation stroke due to blunt vertebral artery injury is rare. In our experience, the natural course of blunt vertebral artery injury was benign and neither delay in medical treatment nor choice of antithrombotic had a significant impact on outcomes. In our series, only 3 (3.7%) grade I and II injuries worsened and were without any clinical sequelae. We suggest that routine serial imaging in grade I and II blunt vertebral injuries is not warranted.

Ligation of Common Iliac Artery Mycotic Aneurysm in a Neonate and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Mycotic aortoiliac aneurysms in neonates are rare. Surgical treatment has traditionally been the standard of care, but recent case reports have suggested that endovascular management of mycotic iliac aneurysms may also be safe and effective. In this case, we describe successful management of a mycotic aortoiliac aneurysm in a neonate with exploratory laparotomy and ligation of the left common iliac artery. METHODS: A full-term infant boy of uncomplicated delivery was transferred to our institution on day 2 of life after a barium enema concerning for small left colon syndrome. An umbilical artery catheter had been placed for monitoring but was removed before transfer. During his hospital course, he developed left leg edema and fever. He was found to have a mycotic aneurysm of the left common and internal iliac arteries, causing common iliac venous compression. A repeat ultrasound revealed the aneurysm measured a maximum of 12 mm in diameter and 26 mm in length. RESULTS: Treatment was delayed until the patient was clinically stable. He was monitored with serial ultrasounds, which showed no significant increase in aneurysmal size. A review of the literature supported the perception the aneurysm posed an impending risk to the patient. On day 16 of life, the neonate underwent ligation and excision of the left common iliac artery aneurysm. CONCLUSION: Our experience found ligation of the common iliac artery to be safe and effective, establishing that surgical reconstruction is not required.

Traumatic Aorto-Cisterna Chlyi Fistula with Treatment of Aortic Pseudoaneurysm with CT-Guided Thrombin Injection.

BACKGROUND: Only 3 cases of aorto-cisterna chyli fistula have been described in the literature but none with a resulting pseudoaneurysm (PSA). METHODS: A 68-year-old man presented following a motor vehicle collision. Imaging revealed a retroperitoneal hematoma with enhancement of the cisterna chyli, representing an aortic to cisterna chyli fistula. Three days later, computed tomography angiography showed resolution of the fistula, but revealed a PSA. The patient underwent arteriography that confirmed the PSA, and then a computed tomography-guided thrombin injection was performed. Follow-up imaging showed resolution of the PSA. RESULTS: Only 3 cases of aorto-cisterna chyli fistula have been described. We hypothesize that this fistula was caused from his L2 vertebral body fracture, which avulsed the lumbar artery and injured the cisterna chyli. The cisterna chyli provided an outflow tract for the aortic injury. We believe this type of fistula follows a benign clinical course. Aorto-cisterna chyli fistula is rare, and reports point to spontaneous resolution. Our case is unique in that the patient progressed from a fistula to a PSA. Options for treatment of this PSA include covered stent graft, open repair, coil embolization, or thrombin injection. CONCLUSIONS: This case report describes an extremely rare diagnosis and the natural history of this aorto-cisterna chyli fistula. Furthermore, the resulting aortic PSA was successfully treated with computed tomography-guided thrombin injection, which in the appropriate setting, should be considered an acceptable option.

Comparison of Low-Dose Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis with and without Pharmacomechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Lower Extremity Ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) and/or pharmacomechanical thrombectomy (PMT) can dissolve/remove thrombus; PMT alone, however, may require the adjunctive use of CDT. The aim of this study was to compare the use of CDT with and without PMT for the treatment of acute lower extremity ischemia (ALI). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with ALI who underwent CDT with or without PMT between January 2008 and April 2014 (n = 99). Patients with incomplete medical charts were excluded (n = 16). Remaining patients were divided into 2 cohorts: group 1 included patients who underwent PMT + CDT (n = 54); group 2 included those who underwent CDT alone (n = 29). Lesions were further characterized by anatomic location: iliac disease (n = 14), femoropopliteal disease (n = 53), tibial disease (n = 2), and multilevel disease (n = 14). Data collection included patient and limb characteristics, duration of treatment, complications, clinical outcomes, adjunctive interventions, and follow-up. RESULTS: No significant differences were seen between treatment groups in terms of patient characteristics, occlusion length and location, Rutherford class, median duration of ischemia time (P = 0.22), or mean lysis time (P = 0.58). Treatment groups were also similar with regard to outcomes, including periprocedure complications, patency, reintervention, limb salvage, and amputation-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: There was no different between PMT + CDT and CDT alone in terms of periprocedural complications or outcomes. In the quest to resolve ALI, initial thrombus extraction with PMT may not reduce the need, duration, or efficacy of CDT.

Nonoperative management of grade III blunt thoracic aortic injuries.

OBJECTIVE: Blunt thoracic aortic injuries (BTAIs) have historically been treated with open surgery; thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), however, is rapidly becoming the standard of care for all grades of injury. Previous studies have shown successful, conservative management of low-grade (I and II) BTAI, but limited literature exists regarding nonoperative management (NOM) for high-grade BTAI. The purpose of this study was to evaluate NOM for grade III BTAI compared with TEVAR. METHODS: There were 75 patients diagnosed with BTAI between January 2004 and June 2015. Of these, 40 were excluded for different grades of BTAI (17), death before any treatment (6), and need for urgent open repair (17). The remaining 35 patients were divided into two groups by treatment approach: NOM (n = 18) and TEVAR (n = 17). Primary end points were complications and mortality. The secondary end point was difference in pseudoaneurysm and aortic diameter measurements between groups. RESULTS: The groups of patients were similar in age, gender, Injury Severity Score, length of stay, in-hospital mortality, and hospital-associated complications. There were four TEVAR-related complications: graft involutions (2), type I endoleak (1), and distal embolization (1). All TEVAR-related complications required either an adjunctive procedure at the time of the primary procedure or an additional procedure. No patients from the NOM group required operative intervention. There were seven in-hospital mortalities: two in the TEVAR group (11.8%) and five in the NOM group (27.8%; P = .402). One death in the NOM group was related to aortic disease. Follow-up computed tomography imaging revealed similar aortic-related outcomes between groups, with a high proportion showing resolved or improved aortic injury (NOM, 87.5%; TEVAR, 92.9%; P = .674). Initial computed tomography imaging showed similar aortic diameters between groups. The average diameter of the aorta distal to the subclavian artery was 22.6 mm in the NOM group vs 22.8 mm in the TEVAR group (P = .85). The average maximum diameter of the pseudoaneurysm was 30.1 mm in the TEVAR group and 29.9 mm in the NOM group (P = .90). The average ratio of diameter of the pseudoaneurysm to diameter of the aorta distal to the subclavian artery was 1.32 for the TEVAR group and 1.33 for the NOM group (P = .85). CONCLUSIONS: The natural history of grade III BTAIs is not well described. This study suggests that observation and NOM of grade III BTAI may be a reasonable therapeutic option in selected patients. It also speaks to the need for further delineation of the natural history of this injury. Serial imaging and long-term follow-up are necessary to monitor the progression of the pseudoaneurysm.

Canonical and atypical E2Fs regulate the mammalian endocycle.

The endocycle is a variant cell cycle consisting of successive DNA synthesis and gap phases that yield highly polyploid cells. Although essential for metazoan development, relatively little is known about its control or physiologic role in mammals. Using lineage-specific cre mice we identified two opposing arms of the E2F program, one driven by canonical transcription activation (E2F1, E2F2 and E2F3) and the other by atypical repression (E2F7 and E2F8), that converge on the regulation of endocycles in vivo. Ablation of canonical activators in the two endocycling tissues of mammals, trophoblast giant cells in the placenta and hepatocytes in the liver, augmented genome ploidy, whereas ablation of atypical repressors diminished ploidy. These two antagonistic arms coordinate the expression of a unique G2/M transcriptional program that is critical for mitosis, karyokinesis and cytokinesis. These results provide in vivo evidence for a direct role of E2F family members in regulating non-traditional cell cycles in mammals.

A mathematical model to predict length of stay in pediatric ATV accident victims.

BACKGROUND: Children under age 12 y represent 15% of all-terrain vehicle (ATV)-related deaths, and those under 16 y old represent >36% of deaths nationwide. In recent years, this has accounted for an increasing proportion of pediatric trauma victims and longer hospitalizations secondary to worsened injuries. We believe it is possible to create a simple mathematical model that can be used to predict hospital length of stay. METHODS: A retrospective review of the trauma registry was performed for all pediatric patients who were involved in ATV accidents from January 2000 to December 2009. Four hundred twenty pediatric patients were identified. A model to predict for total LOS in pediatric patients involved in ATV accidents was constructed. SPSS ver. 17 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) was utilized to conduct all statistical analyses. Statistical significance of regression coefficients was assumed at a P < 0.05 level. RESULTS: We performed a hierarchical multiple regression analysis to build a model that would predict for total length of stay (LOS). A logarithmic transformation was employed on LOS as a dependent variable due to skewness. In Step 1, ISS accounted for a 25% increase in shared variance in LOS (P < 0.001). In Step 2, Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) accounted for 4.3% more variance in LOS (P < 0.001). Finally, in Step 3, the presence of a closed head injury further increased (3.6%) the amount of shared variance in the model (P < 0.001). The final model accounts for 32.9% of the shared variance in total LOS. When using the logarithmic transformation, the final model is: Total LOS = 1.00 + 0.05 injury severity score (ISS) - 0.06 (GCS) + 0.35 closed head injury (CHI). CONCLUSION: Based on our data and statistical analysis, we found it was possible to create a mathematical model that could predict hospital LOS in pediatric ATV accident victims.

Surgical anatomy of the accessory phrenic nerve.

BACKGROUND: Reports place the frequency of phrenic nerve injury after cardiac operations between 10% and 85%, emphasizing the importance of an accurate anatomic description of the diaphragm's innervating nerves to reduce iatrogenic injury, length of hospitalization, and associated costs. The aim of our study was to explore the anatomic variations of the accessory phrenic nerve and relate these findings to phrenic nerve injury. METHODS: Eighty adult formalin-fixed cadavers were dissected, resulting in 160 nerve specimens. Fifty nerve specimens were also examined laparoscopically with findings later confirmed through gross dissection. All nerves contributing to the phrenic nerve after crossing the anterior scalene were considered to be accessory phrenic nerves. RESULTS: The phrenic nerve was present in all specimens, and 99 (61.8%) also had an accessory phrenic nerve. The accessory phrenic nerve arose from the nerve to subclavius in 60 specimens (60.6%), ansa cervicalis in 12 (12.1%), and nerve to sternohyoid in 7 (7%). The accessory phrenic nerve joined with the phrenic nerve in the thorax anterior to the subclavian vein in 45 (45.5%) specimens and posterior in 17 (22.2%). A phrenic-accessory phrenic nerve loop was found around the subclavian vein in 45 (35 on the right, 10 on the left) specimens and around the internal thoracic artery in 38 (31 on the right, 7 on the left). CONCLUSIONS: To reduce injuries to the diaphragm, the presence of an accessory phrenic nerve should be considered before mobilization and skeletonization of the internal thoracic artery above the second rib.